Hello from Coquette Point, It is with a deep sense of loss that we learnt today that Margaret Whitlam completed her journey on planet Earth.

When Margaret visited Coquette Point in 1975, as guest of honour at a 300 strong gathering of north Queensland women, she expressed her deep concern for the rainforest and the animals that belonged to it.

She jokingly said to me “ If I lived here I would blow up the bridge and live in solitude in the rainforest”. Thank you Margaret your life was an example to us all: you made a difference.

The Indian Koels found their voice this week and early every morning the male and female have been ‘singing the rain’ in long wurra-wurra calls that are held for at least ten seconds and finish in mounting shrills.

The monsoon sits over the Wet Tropics and has brought heavy rain all week. The Johnstone river again runs red carrying the top soils of its catchment, that have taken thousands of years to create, out to the WHGBR. I saw lots of rubbish caught up in the river flow and a role of agricultural poly pipe was deposited on the beach in front of the house.

Whether it is the drop in atmospheric pressure or the continuous rain the spiders are busy hunting and building webs. I counted 15 golden orb spiders in one small patch of rainforest. I watched in fascination as one golden orb spider spun its web faultlessly deftly lifting and joining the silk around and around. Meanwhile the tiny male golden orb shifted his position every time she came close.

The female crab spider Thomisus spectablis is white, the male yellow and unfortunately they were feeding on birdwing caterpillars this week. These amazing creatures can be found hidden in shrubs in the garden, they have iridescent striped markings on their translucent bodies.

The birdwing caterpillars are vulnerable at the moment as they are undergoing a moult and tend to lie quietly for an hour or so while their new skins hardens.

Cassowary chick ‘Rosie’ is now walking alone and I have observed her, over the past week, moving in a small territory of about three hectares at the Point. Cassowary ‘Big Sis’ also moves within this area and when they meet ‘Big Sis’ quickly establishes her dominance. ‘Rosie’ is timid and moves off when she sees me.

In between rain showers the crested hawks spend hours preening their feathers. They have been very active this week hunting small frogs and lizards.